CA Wine by plane to MA?
#1
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS
Posts: 15,027
CA Wine by plane to MA?
I will be traveling to SF and was thinking of bringing home a couple bottles of Napa wine.
The question is: How? TSA does not allow more than 3 oz of liquid. I don't want to check the wine since it will be ruined by the freezing temps in the cargo hold.
The question is: How? TSA does not allow more than 3 oz of liquid. I don't want to check the wine since it will be ruined by the freezing temps in the cargo hold.
#2




Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SEA
Programs: AS-GoldMVP,Hilton, Hyatt, Hertz
Posts: 915
Are you getting it at a winery??
You can ask the winery to ship for you.
I go to Calistoga every May and like to get a few bottles myself.
The wineries ship and they will ship as little as two bottles.
You can ask the winery to ship for you.
I go to Calistoga every May and like to get a few bottles myself.
The wineries ship and they will ship as little as two bottles.
#5




Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Salt Lake City
Programs: Delta Plat- HHonors Diamond - Hertz PC - Marriott Titanium - IHG Ambassador
Posts: 2,382
I flew SEA to MIA last week with a bottle of 02 Apex merlot in my checked bag with no problems whatsoever......
Enjoyed it on the cruise ship with dinner....
Enjoyed it on the cruise ship with dinner....
#6




Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: TAS
Programs: A3*G, UA 1K
Posts: 9,252
When you get the wine home don't drink it straight away
#8
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: OH
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, Marriot Lifetime Gold
Posts: 10,017
Check it. Just pack it very well to prevent breakage. It will be fine. I've done this with tons of bottles from Europe.
#9




Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: AA LT G (1MM);DL G, UA GM
Posts: 2,028
When you get the wine home don't drink it straight away
#10
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: NY
Programs: AA, US, DL, UA, Marriott Silver, Hilton Silver
Posts: 960
I just returned from Napa and Sonoma and brought an entire case home. BevMo in CA has shipping boxes with the styrofoam fittings for the bottles. Taped up the box real well and the airline even put a "Fragile" sticker on it for us. Made it home perfectly fine.
As for the temperature, even if they shipped it to you its still flying on a plane in cargo so likely not regulated temperatures there either.
As for the temperature, even if they shipped it to you its still flying on a plane in cargo so likely not regulated temperatures there either.
#11
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Central Texas
Programs: Many, slipping beneath the horizon
Posts: 9,859
As the expression goes, "It ain't cold in the hold!" (or not very), and it's damnably difficult to pressurize the upper1/2 of a cigar tube-round fuselage.
After all, they do put some critters down there, pets, lab rats, occasional experimental monkies, and only embalmed decedents.
After all, they do put some critters down there, pets, lab rats, occasional experimental monkies, and only embalmed decedents.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: south of WAS DC
Posts: 10,131
Holds are pressurized to same pressure as rest of plane. holds are close to same temp as rest of plane. certainly not freezing. CA's finest cabs were just shipped to DC for the barrel sampling. they were shipped in the hold.
get a hard sided suit case, get burgundy separators. get some bubble wrap. pack 11 bottles per case. 12 bottles usually goes over 50 lbs. if you have a 72 lb limit, you can go to 15-16 bottles.
get a hard sided suit case, get burgundy separators. get some bubble wrap. pack 11 bottles per case. 12 bottles usually goes over 50 lbs. if you have a 72 lb limit, you can go to 15-16 bottles.
#13
Moderator: Hilton Honors, Practical Travel Safety Issues, Information Desk & San Francisco



Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: San Francisco CA
Programs: UA, Hilton, Priceline, AirBnB
Posts: 11,319
Especially if it's just a couple of bottles...we have brought wine FROM CA and back to CA form France and Montreal several times in our softsided luggage.
Most Napa and Sonoma wineries sell these things that are like bubble wrap but a little sturdier, I can't remember what they are called. Wine sleeves or something. If you pack a bottle in each and wrap your dirty laundry around it you should have no problem.
If you can't get those, regular bubble wrap will do. Use a couple of rolls around and then wrap that in newspaper and do the dirty laundry trick again. We have never had a bottle break.
Most Napa and Sonoma wineries sell these things that are like bubble wrap but a little sturdier, I can't remember what they are called. Wine sleeves or something. If you pack a bottle in each and wrap your dirty laundry around it you should have no problem.
If you can't get those, regular bubble wrap will do. Use a couple of rolls around and then wrap that in newspaper and do the dirty laundry trick again. We have never had a bottle break.


